The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2017 has received the consent of the state governor. The state government will announce an 11-member West Bengal Health Regulatory Commission, which will monitor the billing and performance of private hospitals and nursing homes in the state. The Commission will comprise a former chief justice, health experts, principal secretary of the health department, and representatives of hospitals and patients.

The bill, passed in the state assembly on March 3, is aimed at imposing a crackdown on private hospitals. There are provisions in the bill which say that private healthcare institutes cannot refuse admission and treatment of emergency cases, such as acid attack, rape, and accident victims. The hospital will have to admit these patients and begin treatment even if the patient could not afford the treatment immediately. It also empowers the government to impose penalty in case of violations.